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Jun 1, 1215
Magna Carta
The documents were signed by the barons of medieval England and King John. It was signed at Runnymede near Windsor Castle. The documents are an agreement between the king and the barons that the king would govern England according to Feudal Law. Feudal Law was the law that all citizens had to follow and the king had to enforce. -
Mayflower Compact
This documents purpose was to promote peace amongst the pilgrims who landed at Plymouth days before. It was signed by 41 colonists and was the first written framework of government for the United States. -
Petition of Rights
Signed by the English Parliament came some requests sent to King Charles I.They declared that the people have more freedom, such as : you can't punish soldiers by martial laws, no freeman should be forced to pay any tax unless asked by the Parliament, and no freeman should be imprisoned contrary to the laws of the land. -
English Bill of Rights
The King and Queen William and Mary of Orange used the English Bill of Rights as a condition of their rule. It gave citizens political and civil rights, Catholics were banned from the throne, and Kings and Queens had to swear to maintain Protestantism as the official religion of England. Other protection is included in the English Bill of Rights, such as freedom of speech, which is now in our constitution as the first, second, fourth, fifth, sixth and eighth amendments. -
Albany Plan of Union
The Albany Plan of Union was suggested by Benjamin Franklin. It never actually worked in the colonies. Benjamin Franklin drew up a cartoon to show why the plan would be a good idea. It shows that the snake as separate parts is useless in attack, but formed together it could defend itself. -
French and Indian War
William Pitt lead the british in the French and Indian War, the Frech commander was Marquis de Montcalm. The French and indians were allies against the British and American colonies. In 1758 the British won their first battle at Louisburg then took Fort Frontenac a month later. At a battle at Montreal in 1760 the Frech lost Canada. The British won and got Canada and Florida. The war caused Britain to tax the American colonies more which was a big part of the colonies revolting. -
King George III takes power
King George III wanted to always be at war with the colonies in America. King George the III was to be transfered out of power but refused. When the Frech signed a treaty with America King George III wanted to resign but accepted Americas independence then quit. -
Stamp Act
When the Stamp Act was passed, the colonists were very upset because they taxed anything with printed paper on it, (cards, newspapers, book) but they couldn't really do anything about it. -
Boston Massacre
Five colonists were killed due to growing tensions from royal troops appearing in the Massachusets to enforce the heavy tax burden from the Townshed Acts. video- http://www.history.com/shows/america-the-story-of-us/videos/boston-massacre -
Boston Tea Party
A group of patriots in Massachusets protested the control of American tea importation. They took 342 chests of tea at midnight from 3 different ships and threw them into the harbor. The british responded by closing the port and putting in place the Coercive Acts. -
Intolerable Acts
King George III passed the Intolerable Acts because he was mad about the colonists dumping the tea into the harbor. (Boston Tea Party) The Boston Harbor was shut down so U.S ships could not export goods. He made the colonists provide shelter and food for British troops. Also if the British committed a crime, they could not be tried in court until they get back to England. -
First Continental Congress
The meeting took place In Carpenter's Hall in Philadelphia. The president of the convention was Peyton Randolph with George Washington, Richard Henry Lee, Patrick Henry, Richard Bland, Benjamin Harrison, and Edmund Pendleton. It proposed a plan called A Plan of Union that elected a Grand Council like the Parliament in England. -
Second Continental Congress
Seocnd Continential Congress This meeting was once again set in Philadelphia under George Washington and John Adams. This is where they made the Olive Branch Petition. It pleaded for the U.S and the British to come to peace but the kind rejected it. They tried to come to peace with other governments so if they ever needed help, they would be on their side. -
Lexington and Concord
Shockingly enough, the colonists had the British retreating rather quickly. Paul Revere was the man that saved John Hancock, Samuel Adams and the colonists from being under a surprise attack. This proved that the colonists were pretty powerful. -
Declaration of Independence
The declaration of Independence was signed by 56 people from all the different colonies at the Second Contenential Congress.. It says that the colonies want independence away from Great Britian and they know how to operate on their own. Some of the people that signed were John Hancock, Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson. -
Articles of Confederation
This held a loose confederation for all 13 states. It gave most of the power to the states and had a weak central government. This was held under George Washington. -
Start of Constitutional Convention
The Americans came together again in Philadelphia to discuss what they are going to do about the power they want, but are not getting. First they elected a president for the convention which was George Washington. They gave more power to the Congress hoping to regulate the economy.They also formed the House of Representatives which would have 2 senators from each state.
